WEST SPRINGFIELD – Neena Grover remembers wanting to hold a walk to raise money and awareness after her son committed suicide in 1998, but friends told her no one would come because of the stigma.

Saturday Grover, of Longmeadow, attended the third event in as many weeks to raise money and awareness to prevent suicide. This one was a 90-mile motorcycle ride through Southampton and some of the hilltowns, ending in West Springfield for a barbecue and pig roast.

Kyle’s Ride was held in memory of Kyle Enko, of Holyoke and Southampton, who killed himself in 2008 when he was 19. Nearly 30 motorcyclists and their passengers paid $15 each to participate and dozens of other contributed later at the picnic.

“It feels good. It feels like I’m still taking care of him,” said Sharon J. Enko, Kyle’s mother, of Southampton.

This is the third ride in Enko’s memory and to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The previous year, it raised more than $4,000 and this year MassMutual Financial Group has pledged to match the first $1,000 collected, she said.

The idea came from Cheryl A. Kondrat, of Blandford, who is Sharon Enko’s cousin. Kyle’s death was devastating for his mother and she wanted give Enko a mission while she was grieving.

Since Kondrat and her husband had been riding motorcycles for years, Enko and her husband James R. Szacruk had started riding and a lot of their friends ride, a motorcycle run was perfect.

It may be the first motorcycle ride for suicide prevention. Recently Kondrat received a call from someone in Indiana who wanted information on how to organize their own.

While the money is important, family members said the awareness is more important.

Enko said she wants teenagers to understand it is important to talk to adults who can get help if a friend is talking about suicide or has other problems.

“It is bittersweet. It is a good feeling to do this but we would rather have Kyle here,” Szacruk said. “He was my stepson but he was also my friend.